https://leader.pubs.asha.org/article.aspx?articleid=1854306Spotlight on Special Interest Group 4, Fluency and Fluency DisordersQ How many ASHA members affiliate with SIG 4? As of February 2014, SIG 4 had 1,167 affiliates. Q Why did you originally choose to affiliate with SIG 4? I joined SIG 4 just as fluency specialization was becoming a reality. As a member of the initial cadre of specialists ...2014-04-01T00:00:00SIG SpotlightNina Reeves, MS, CCC-SLP, BRS-FD

I joined SIG 4 just as fluency specialization was becoming a reality. As a member of the initial cadre of specialists in fluency disorders, I was happy to be a part of a dynamic group of people who would share information and ideas, and would advocate for enhancing speech-language pathologists’ training in fluency disorders.

Q What is the most important issue surrounding SIG 4’s subject matter right now?

As the specialty certification process changes, one issue remains consistent: university training in fluency disorders continues to decrease, so the need for SLPs who want to enhance their knowledge has never been more important. Continuing education and mentoring of fellow SLPs is imperative to enhance treatment outcomes for people who stutter.

Also, SIG 4 affiliates continue to work with the ASHA Health Care Economics Committee to advocate for appropriate CPT [Current Procedural Terminology] codes for stuttering treatment. And the ASHA Ad Hoc Committee on Reading Fluency for School-Age Children Who Stutter continues its charge to study the impact of oral reading fluency assessments on children who stutter and disseminate information to SLPs on how to help decrease the negative impact for this population.

Q What upcoming events related to or sponsored by SIG 4 should everyone know about?

ASHA 2014 Convention: SIG 4 is planning a short course on counseling for schoolage children with fluency disorders, and a mini-seminar on a variety of intensive fluency intervention programs. Look for these SIG 4 invited sessions in the convention program.

Q Which of your recent Perspectives articles is a must-read for CSD professionals, and why?

Bullying continues to be a hot topic in all aspects of education. Laura W. Plexico, Allison M. Plumb and Jillian Beacham’s article, “Teacher Knowledge and Perceptions of Stuttering and Bullying in School Age Children” (Nov. 2013; on.asha.org/stuttering-bullying), is a wonderful overview of research on bullying’s impact, and includes strategies to help children who stutter deal with bullying.